The letter refers to PM Modi’s statements during a rally in Hubli on May 6 where he had attacked Congress leaders for leveling corruption allegations against BJP’s CM candidate Yeddyurappa. Modi had said, “Congress ke neta kaan kholkar sun lijiye. Agar seemaon ko paar karoge to yeh Modi hai, lene ke dene pad jaayenge (Congress leaders must remember. If you cross your limits, this Modi will make you face the consequences.)”

Manmohan Singh’s letter says “it is unthinkable that in our democratic polity, the Prime Minister as the Head of the Government would utter words which are threatening, intimidating in content and a public warning to the leaders and members of the main opposition party, ie. the Indian National Congress”.

The letter also goes on to say that the “threat” made by PM Modi against Congress leaders “deserves to be condemned” because “such discourse whether in public or private is unacceptable conduct”. It also says that Congress is the oldest party in India and its leaders will not be “cowed down by such threats.”

The Congress leaders urged the President to “caution” Narendra Modi against using such “unwarranted, threatening and intimidating” language against leaders of Congress and other parties because it does not “behoove” anybody who occupies the Prime Minister’s post.